DOPEY fraudsters went on a £900 spending spree with stolen cheques - but were caught out when they returned to a shop to complain they had been given an empty box.

When Clare McGinley and Christopher McWhirter realised the shop had not put the telephone they had bought in its box, they went back to demand a replacement.

But sharp-eyed staff noticed discrepancies during a check on the original purchase details, and the pair were arrested.

Appearing before magistrates at Warrington on Wednesday, McGinley, aged 22, of Payne Close, Great Sankey, admitted obtaining property by deception and asked for 11 other offences to be considered.

McWhirter, aged 26, of Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges, admitted assisting her and asked for one offence to be taken into consideration.

Ian Buttress, prosecuting, said the couple used a cheque book and guarantee card which had been lost by their owner, Michelle Wood.

They bought items totalling £912.31 - each time being careful to keep below the card's guarantee limit of £100.

The couple were remanded on bail until February 3 for reports.

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